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16
FOOD CONTROL
The work of food control continues to occupy an important place in the work
of the department. Systematic inspections and visits by the public health inspectors
ensure that a reasonably high standard of hygiene is maintained in premises
where open food is handled. It cannot be too strongly emphasised, however, that
the standard in any particular premises will depend on the individuals employed.
Complaints continue to be received regarding foreign bodies in articles of
food. The complaints relate to all types of food and it is difficult to point to the
reason for such occurrences. Inevitably manufacturers draw attention to the
modern equipment and up-to-date methods in use in producing and packing foodstuffs
until one is left with the thought that the machine - however efficient - is
only as efficient as the person operating it. How, for example, is one to account
for the extraneous articles which appear from time to time in bottles of milk ?
In last year s Annual Report I commented on the Government's plan for
dealing with slaughterhouses. The Slaughterhouses Bill, then before Parliament,
was duly passed into law and on 1st August, 1958 became operative.
This Act has three main objects:-
(1) To provide for new and strict minimum standards for the construction
and equipment of slaughterhouses.
(2) To preserve the existing system of licensing of private slaughterhouses
by local authorities and of providing public slaughterhouses.
(3) To achieve improvement of slaughterhouses: by stages:-
(a) by allowing traders to establish slaughterhouses subject only to
planning approval and certain standards.
(b) by introducing a measure of control after a given period.
Section 3 of the Act, lays an important duty upon local authorities. It
requires them to prepare, and submit to the Minister, a report on the slaughterhouse
facilities in the area. The appointed day by which these reports have to. be
submitted had not at the end of the year been fixed.
Food Shops
The number of shops selling food in Tottenham is 1,052.
Several shops have more than one trade, and the following list shows the
number dealing in each food trade.